Principle:

1. In this procedure we place a latex band around the neck of the hemorrhoid or pile, freeze it with cold (cryosurgery) to kill the hemorrhoid and then we cut the band — it comes out with your next bowel movement. The pile then dissolves away over the next 3-12 days.
2. When the hemorrhoid falls off in a few days, you may have some irritation or burning from the raw surface until it heals over. Please avoid excessive coffee, cola, alcohol, spices, heavy lifting and strenuous exercise, for a few days.
3. You will need three or four visits to complete the treatment — one hemorrhoid at a time. We will do a routine sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy to make sure there is no other problem up higher causing your symptoms. All patients with hemorrhoids can be treated this way. In-hospital surgery is out of date.

Advantages:

No hospitalization, no general anesthesia, no time lost from work, no pain after the operation and no pain with bowel movements (provided you are not constipated). This procedure has fewer serious complications, i.e., no narrowing of the anal opening and rarely is there an infection. Early recurrence rate is reduced to about 5% with this method. Hemorrhoids may recur if you strain at stool or sit on the toilet and read, etc. A routine follow-up visit in six months is recommended.

Precautions:

1. Constipation and straining at stool must be avoided, this is extremely important. If you have this tendency add fibre and water to your diet.
2. Bleeding: spotting may occur when the hemorrhoid falls off (it may be the only indication that it has). Occasionally you may have a gush of blood in the toilet during a bowel movement. If you do, simply lie face down on the bed with your stomach over the edge and head on a pillow on the floor so that your bottom is as high as possible — for 15-20 minutes to allow the bleeding to stop by gravity. Then, lie face down on your bed with four pillows under your hips to keep your bottom elevated for an hour. If the bleeding returns, start all over again. It is very rare (1 in 1000) that this will not stop the bleeding. If it continues, call the Clinic. If you have periodic bleeding after the treatment is over it may be from another pile or from anal irritation. Buy an Anurex(cold, reusable suppository). Its use is to soothe the area by cooling.
3. Burning, raw, irritating sensation: stop all coffee, alcohol, spices (i.e. onions, pepper and garlic) and use Anurex (no prescription needed) twice a day for a few weeks
4. Painful external swelling occurs in less than 3% of cases. Use Epsom Salt sitz baths (10 minutes, 3 times daily), ice packs, and Anurex, stay off your feet and do not strain with bowel movements. It should improve within a few days. This is either a hematoma or edema (swelling).
5. If you experience any urinary retention (ie: unable to urinate) try voiding while in a warm bath.